Smith bothers me less than guys like Devlin, Leo and, to a lesser extent, Jack. I think it's mostly because, to me at least, it's pretty obvious Doug isn't a basketball guy. He ended up with the BB gig at the Star cause they already had Griffin on the baseball beat and 4 or 5 guys covering hockey. He's a chronicler of the team. He is close to the organization out of habit and necessity. He's like the guy down the hall from me who comes in, works 8-4:30, leaves and couldn't give two shits about the job or the company. He'll do the minimum possible and just wants his paycheck. I get Smith.

I don't get guys like Leo and Jack. Whatever you think about them, they are basketball guys and they aren't stupid. They have lived the game their whole lives and they understand BB. They know what is going on with this team and they understand how bad things are but they keep to the company line and willingly drink the kool-aid. To me, it's worse because it becomes a credibility issue. I think Leo, in particular, has basically lost any respect he once had among Raptor followers and Jack, too, has lost respect with the constant excuse-making.

I'm not saying there needs to be a constant stream of negativity for 2 hours every game but being honest every now and again would be nice.

I find it as irritating as anyone sometimes, but just like all other homer announcers across the league, they're hired and paid by the organization to spew as much optimism as possible. That's their job, if they want to get paid! . It isn't going to change any more than it will in other cities. Do people who complain about these guys and their homerism get fooled by the far more objective stuff from U.S. national broadcasts, and think "why can't ours be like that"? It will never happen, no matter who is in the seat, so people need to turn the sound off if it's that painful, or accept that it will be forever so. These guys need to make a living, and they're doing what every broadcaster in every city does to do so.

Smith bothers me less than guys like Devlin, Leo and, to a lesser extent, Jack. I think it's mostly because, to me at least, it's pretty obvious Doug isn't a basketball guy. He ended up with the BB gig at the Star cause they already had Griffin on the baseball beat and 4 or 5 guys covering hockey. He's a chronicler of the team. He is close to the organization out of habit and necessity. He's like the guy down the hall from me who comes in, works 8-4:30, leaves and couldn't give two shits about the job or the company. He'll do the minimum possible and just wants his paycheck. I get Smith.

I don't get guys like Leo and Jack. Whatever you think about them, they are basketball guys and they aren't stupid. They have lived the game their whole lives and they understand BB. They know what is going on with this team and they understand how bad things are but they keep to the company line and willingly drink the kool-aid. To me, it's worse because it becomes a credibility issue. I think Leo, in particular, has basically lost any respect he once had among Raptor followers and Jack, too, has lost respect with the constant excuse-making.

I'm not saying there needs to be a constant stream of negativity for 2 hours every game but being honest every now and again would be nice.

I find it as irritating as anyone sometimes, but just like all other homer announcers across the league, they're hired and paid by the organization to spew as much optimism as possible. That's their job, if they want to get paid! . It isn't going to change any more than it will in other cities. Do people who complain about these guys and their homerism get fooled by the far more objective stuff from U.S. national broadcasts, and think "why can't ours be like that"? It will never happen, no matter who is in the seat, so people need to turn the sound off if it's that painful, or accept that it will be forever so. These guys need to make a living, and they're doing what every broadcaster in every city does to do so.

I have no problem with the broadcast team being homers. That's fne. And you are right that 99% of times it's true about any pro sports team. I get that. But it's the constant excuse-making that drives me nuts and it's insulting to the hard core fans (the only viewers they have left) cause we know there are serious issues. That's all I'm saying. Plus, I really dislike Leo from a personality perpective. I think that may color my view of him in particular.

I find it as irritating as anyone sometimes, but just like all other homer announcers across the league, they're hired and paid by the organization to spew as much optimism as possible. That's their job, if they want to get paid! . It isn't going to change any more than it will in other cities. Do people who complain about these guys and their homerism get fooled by the far more objective stuff from U.S. national broadcasts, and think "why can't ours be like that"? It will never happen, no matter who is in the seat, so people need to turn the sound off if it's that painful, or accept that it will be forever so. These guys need to make a living, and they're doing what every broadcaster in every city does to do so.

That's why I prefer to watch/listen/read a wide variety of sources, watch the team myself and then come to my own conclusions.

I think this offseason was the perfect example of why no single source should be your only source of Raptors/NBA info/insight:
- Raptors PR said they wanted the team to fight for playoffs
- local media bought into the improvements via draft/trade/free agency and were thinking 8th seed
- most US outlets were writing Raptors off as fighting just to avoid the Eastern basement
- many RR posters projected the Raptors to finish as high as 4th or 5th in the East

Read the positives, read the negatives, read the insiders, read the 'Toronto still has an NBA team' American outlets, read fellow RR posters, watch the Raptors yourself, watch the rest of the league yourself, boil everything together, take with multiple grains of salt, then make up your own mind and set your own expectations.

Yeah, but again, if you watched the Jays much toward the end of the season, Zaun, a Rogers employee, was giving it to the team. Calling out the owners, the GM, coaches, players, the minor leauge development of players, etc. Now, Zaun is a bit of a goof but he was giving his honest take on things, right or wrong. I don't like Zaun but I respected that he was saying what a lot of fans were thinking.

I simply can't imagine Leo or Jack doing the same and I think that speaks somewhat poorly of them.

Yeah, but again, if you watched the Jays much toward the end of the season, Zaun, a Rogers employee, was giving it to the team. Calling out the owners, the GM, coaches, players, the minor leauge development of players, etc. Now, Zaun is a bit of a goof but he was giving his honest take on things, right or wrong. I don't like Zaun but I respected that he was saying what a lot of fans were thinking.

I simply can't imagine Leo or Jack doing the same and I think that speaks somewhat poorly of them.

It could also be a matter of MLSE wanting the talk to remain positive and upbeat, in order to grow the NBA market in Canada. I'm not saying it's an excuse, but rather that it wouldn't surprise me if it was the case.

I think Raptor fans should just ignore Doug Smith and he should just keep quiet. Thanks for all those hot tips and rumours Doug! Thanks for breaking all those stories, Doug! Thanks for asking the tough questions that need to be asked, Doug! Thanks for.... oh wait a minute, you don't do any of that.... Thanks for nothing, Doug!

Instead of going on on a rant, have you thought of simply following your own advice and just ignore him?

But nooooooooo, there was this uncontrollable urge to tell Raptor fans how they should feel about Doug Smith's writing!

But, in serious tone, if venting allows you to calm down in real life, please do not hesitate! Finding balance is hard enough and this is a safe outlet.

The Raptors are failing to deliver on the culture change and the accountability statements from the start of the year.

DD, JV, and Ross are definitely positives on the season. Unfortunately it doesn't change the fact the Raps are the 2nd worst team in the league.

With so many new players, 2 rookies in the rotation, and injuries (especially the 2 on-going to our weakest position), I don't think the team success we see now is what we'll be seeing by the end of the season. This team wasn't going to be a finals contender this year. The GOAL of contending for playoffs wasn't some guarantee, simply a target, and despite the current record, we won't know if that's out of reach for some time yet. Stranger things have happened in the world of sport.

As for judging the team culture change and improvements, as they stand now, sure it looks rough now, but a reminder: even teams with several superstar future HOFers, like Miami a couple of years ago, and LAL now, have a tough time gelling with a radically different line-up. Hell, Lakers just lost to freaking Orlando, and scored a pathetic 77 points in a loss to Indiana. Do you think those games are going to represent that team by the end of the season? Patience is a crucial factor when trying to fit new pieces together.

With so many new players, 2 rookies in the rotation, and injuries (especially the 2 on-going to our weakest position), I don't think the team success we see now is what we'll be seeing by the end of the season. This team wasn't going to be a finals contender this year. The GOAL of contending for playoffs wasn't some guarantee, simply a target, and despite the current record, we won't know if that's out of reach for some time yet. Stranger things have happened in the world of sport.

As for judging the team culture change and improvements, as they stand now, sure it looks rough now, but a reminder: even teams with several superstar future HOFers, like Miami a couple of years ago, and LAL now, have a tough time gelling with a radically different line-up. Hell, Lakers just lost to freaking Orlando, and scored a pathetic 77 points in a loss to Indiana. Do you think those games are going to represent that team by the end of the season? Patience is a crucial factor when trying to fit new pieces together.

After 7 years of Bargnani, patience has run out.

The Raptors are relying on him to be the #1 guy when he is not capable of that. Everything the Raptors have done for the last 3+ seasons has been about finding players to fit around Bargnani. Maybe, no definitely, it is time to go in separate directions.

Despite my doom and gloom, I don't think the Raptors are that far away from becoming a team like Denver or Utah - solid TEAMS lacking a superstar.

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the possibility of this being the 5th season without a playoff appearance?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about being tied for 2nd last in the league through 17 games?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the endless and unfulfilled hyperbole spewed by Colangelo year in and year out? (flexibility, young guns, rebuild, build, acceleration, etc. etc.)

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the regression shown by the team this season?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the 7 years of misery with Bargnani and the revelation he is what he is - nothing more, nothing less?

I think Raptor fans should just ignore Doug Smith and he should just keep quiet. Thanks for all those hot tips and rumours Doug! Thanks for breaking all those stories, Doug! Thanks for asking the tough questions that need to be asked, Doug! Thanks for.... oh wait a minute, you don't do any of that.... Thanks for nothing, Doug!

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the possibility of this being the 5th season without a playoff appearance?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about being tied for 2nd last in the league through 17 games?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the endless and unfulfilled hyperbole spewed by Colangelo year in and year out? (flexibility, young guns, rebuild, build, acceleration, etc. etc.)

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the regression shown by the team this season?

Raptor fans should just ignore and keep quiet about the 7 years of misery with Bargnani and the revelation he is what he is - nothing more, nothing less?

I think Raptor fans should just ignore Doug Smith and he should just keep quiet. Thanks for all those hot tips and rumours Doug! Thanks for breaking all those stories, Doug! Thanks for asking the tough questions that need to be asked, Doug! Thanks for.... oh wait a minute, you don't do any of that.... Thanks for nothing, Doug!

I think we shouldn't jus sit quiet, but it's he way we choose to say what changes need to be made. And from there it gets carried away, sometimes, by the fans. I see it, almost everyday.

The NBA Larry O'Brien Trophy's 'Big Decision': "This is hard..(smiling)...but..I've decided to take my talents to North Texas, to join The Dallas Mavericks.

Not a fan of Doug Smith over the years. I have watched this team from the opening tip of the franchise, I can judge this team however I like Mr Smith. I think BC and company should feel the heat for how this is going this year, just like every GM of every sports franchise should be held accountable for the performance of the team they assembled. I haven't seen BC much since this went south. He would hang out by the entrance to the locker room early but is now probably in a bunker somewhere.

After 7 years of Bargs my patience has run dry. This kid doesn't get it full stop. I finally gave up on him after some reporter in a scrum asked him if his chemistry with JV was getting better and he said that he didn't need chemistry with JV because JV is not a PG. /facepalm.